Search arXiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · 1507.08698

Frustrated fragmentation and re-aggregation in nuclei: a non-equilibrium description in spallation

P. Napolitani·M. Colonna
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Heavy nuclei bombarded with protons and deuterons in the 1 GeV range have a large probability of undergoing a process of evaporation and fission; less frequently, the prompt emission of few intermediate-mass fragments can also be observed. We employ a recently developed microscopic approach, based on the Boltzmann-Langevin transport equation, to investigate the role of mean-field dynamics and phase-space fluctuations in these reactions. We find that the formation of few IMF's can be confused with asymmetric fission when relying on yield observables, but it can not be assimilated to the statistical decay of a compound nucleus when analysing the dynamics and kinematic observables: it can be described as a fragmentation process initiated by phase-space fluctuations, and successively frustrated by the mean-field resilience. As an extreme situation, which corresponds to non-negligible probability, the number of fragments in the exit channel reduces to two, so that fission-like events are obtained by re-aggregation processes. This interpretation, inspired by nuclear-spallation experiments, can be generalised to heavy-ion collisions from Fermi to relativistic energies, for situations when the system is closely approaching the fragmentation threshold.

Explore related subjects

nucl-th

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

P. Napolitani, M. Colonna. 2015-07-30. Frustrated fragmentation and re-aggregation in nuclei: a non-equilibrium description in spallation. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevc.92.034607

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

Intertwined quantum phase transitions in the even-even $^{90-100}$Sr isotopes

The even-even $^{90-100}$Sr isotopes are identified as a region of intertwined quantum phase transitions (IQPTs). In this scenario, a quantum phase transition involving the crossing of normal and intruder configurations is accompanied by a shape evolution within the intruder configuration. Using the interacting boson model with configuration mixing (IBM-CM), its is shown that the strontium chain exhibits the IQPT scenario, where the intruder configuration evolves from a near-spherical structure in $^{90\text{--}96}$Sr to a deformed one in $^{98,100}$Sr, while the normal and intruder configurations cross between $^{96}$Sr and $^{98}$Sr. As a result, the ground state changes abruptly from a weakly collective normal configuration to a deformed intruder configuration. Evidence for this scenario is provided by a detailed comparison with experimental excitation energies, isotope shifts, and monopole $E0$ transition strengths, together with the configuration and $n_d$ decompositions of the calculated wave functions. The results place the strontium isotopes alongside the neighboring zirconium chain as a realization of IQPTs in the intricate $A\approx100$ region.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2026

Strangeness Production in Heavy-Ion Collisions: Color Ropes or Hydrodynamic Evolution?

We investigate strangeness production and transverse dynamics in heavy-ion collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}\approx 2.5-20~\mathrm{GeV}$ using the transport approach SMASH (Simulating Many Accelerated Strongly-interacting Hadrons), its extension with rope hadronization, and the SMASH+vHLLE hybrid approach. Results from the Pythia-based heavy-ion model Angantyr, with and without rope hadronization, are included for comparison. We study midrapidity particle yields and average transverse masses as functions of the number of wounded nucleons, as well as their energy dependence. For the $K^+/π^+$ ratio, SMASH+vHLLE overpredicts strangeness production at low energies but describes the higher-energy behavior reasonably well. SMASH+Ropes reproduces the ratio up to $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}\sim 10~\mathrm{GeV}$ but does not capture the turnover at higher energies. In contrast, the transverse-mass observables favor the hybrid approach, while the non-thermal models considered here do not generate sufficient collective transverse expansion. These results show that strangeness enhancement alone does not uniquely distinguish microscopic string interactions from a locally equilibrated medium. Simultaneously constraining strangeness production and transverse dynamics is therefore essential for disentangling thermal and non-thermal mechanisms in heavy-ion collisions.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2026

Constraining Energy Density Functionals via Bayesian Analysis of Nuclear Densities

In nuclear many-body physics, energy density functional (EDF) theory is one of the most powerful approaches for describing finite nuclei and nuclear matter. However, its predictive capability depends on calibrating model parameters to experimental and observational data. In this work, we investigate an alternative approach: Constraining the parameters with the continuous density profiles of finite nuclei obtained from ab initio calculations. We apply Bayesian analysis to infer the parameters of Skyrme EDF from the density profiles and binding energies of 16O, 40Ca, and 48Ca. We show that the data effectively constrain the parameters associated with the properties of uniform nuclear matter, whereas those governing non-uniform nuclear matter remain partially constrained and require additional input. Furthermore, using the inferred parameter distributions, we successfully predict the density profiles and binding energy of 208Pb, which is excluded from the training data. This demonstrates the predictive capability of the framework. In conclusion, these results establish Bayesian analysis of density profiles as a promising route for incorporating accurate ab initio results of light nuclei into EDF development and strengthening the connection between both approaches.

nucl-th↗